Doing my bit to boost ‘Planet’ coverage

• Published date: 23 June 2022
• Publication title: Clutha Leader

So, how is Clutha placed to capitalise on the big influx of overseas visitors we can now expect? Not very well, if a quick check of the 2021 edition of Lonely Planet is anything to go by. Balclutha gets an honourable mention as “. . . the last opportunity to top up your vaping supplies before heading into the Catlins”. But many other localities are completely ignored

If we are to compete as a major NZ holiday destination we need to lift our profile and ensure we get more coverage in the next edition of this much-referenced travel guide. I’ve made a start by preparing a couple of paragraphs about my patch, the Clutha Valley, which I’m planning to submit. Sure, a few tweaks are probably needed, but see what you think of it so far:

“The pure, snow-fed waters of Lakes Wakatipu and Wanaka make their 424.8km journey to the Pacific Ocean courtesy of the iconic Clutha River, the largest and fastest flowing river in the country. As it nears its destination, having all the electricity extracted via hydro power stations at the famous Clyde Dam as well as a couple of other dams that aren’t famous, the river passes through the spectacular Clutha Valley.

‘‘Known for its picturesque rolling farmland, steep forested hills and thrilling icy roads, the Clutha Valley is one of the jewels in NZ’s rural crown.

‘‘Clydevale, the area’s cultural, social and economic hub, is often referred to as the ‘Paris of the South’. And with good reason as, like Paris, the town is divided in two by its river.

‘‘On the south bank (often called the ‘rive gauche’ by...